Hood latch



Patented Nov. 22, 1932 UNETE TOM I. DUFFY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE BASSIGK COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- NECTIGUT noon LATCH Application filed December 22, 1930. 'Serial No. 503,904.

The general nature of the present invention being indicated by the title, said invention should be understood to relate more particularly to the provision of an improved hood latch of that type which natural iovements are efi'ective to operate,elevation of a handle being effective to release a cat-ch element and a downward movement of said handle being effective to cause an engagement of said catch element and said handle and catch being provided by an end por tion of a single sized bar extending through a slot in a hood. I

' It is an object of the invention to provide a very simple, durable and reliable hood latch of the general character referred to; and, in preferred embodiments of the invention, a vertically extending slot being suitably provided at a slight distance from the lower edge of a hood, a straight or bent unitary latch bar element is slidably disposed in said slot,the outer end of said bar being provided with or adapted to serve as a handle, the inner end of said bar being provided with a catch or hook portion engageable with a fixed keeper and a slotted bracket being so formed and interiorly disposed as to serve as a fulcrum for said bar.

It is an especial object of the present in vention, using a suitable keeper and a unitary latch bar of the general character referred to, to associate therewith novel means rendering an elevation of the handle effective to disengage said hook and a depression of said handle effective to engage said hook,- said means preferably including an interior fulcrum element in the form of a bracket which is slotted slidably to receive said bar and which also serves a fixed stop for' a spring biasing said bar toward an upper position; and, in preferred embodiments of the invention, said spring may be provided with a stop which is movable with the mentioned bar,this stop being either adapted to a slidable engagement with the hood, adjacent said slot, or provided with a slot-closing plate which is so slidable.

@ther objects of the present invention, including preferred details of construction which permit the use of inexpensive ma terials and obviate all necessity for costly operations or for narrow tolerance in manufacture, may be best appreciated from the following descriptions of illustrative embodiments of the invention, taken in connection with the appended claims and the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational small-scale general View of a hood to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, on a larger scale, taken substantially as indicated by the lines 22 of Figs. 1 and 3, and including optional details.

Fig. 3 is an inside elevational View, taken substantially as indicated by the arrow 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a Vertical section, taken similarly to Fig. 2 but not through a slot, showing a catch element as disconnected from a keeper, some optional details shown in Figs. 2 and 3 being omitted.

Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical sectional views taken similarly to Fig. 2, but showing alteriative features.

Fig. 7 is a perspective detail View, taken substantially as suggested by the arrows 7 of Figs. 2 and 3 showing one suitable method of providing a spring-retaining stop element, of special construction, upon a one-piece latch bar.

Fig.8 is a detail View taken as implied by the lines 88 of Figs. 2 and 3 and showing optional features hereinafter referred to.

Referring first to general featuresillustrated in Figs. 1-4, a hood 11 is shown as interposed between a radiator 12 and a cowl 1.3 ano above a chassis frame or frame covering 14s,said hood being provided with slots 15, and keepers 16 being secured directly or indirectly to said frame, for engagement with latch bars extending through said slots.

Coming now to preferred details of latch construction, the keepers 16 being secured by means such as screws 17, a unitary latch bar element 18, slidable in each slot 15, is

shown as inwardly terminating in a hook element or portion 19,an upwardly and inwardly inclined face 20 thereof being engageable with a downwardly and outwardly in clined face 21 of the keeper 16 and an inwardly disposed cam face 22 thereof being engageable with a cam face 23 provided upon said keeper. Engagement between the mentioned cam faces will be understood"ordinarily to occur subsequently to a moment when, the hook having been completely lowered to a position such that illustrated inFig. 1,21- continuing-downward and inward movement of the bar 18 is effected by means such as a hori- "Zont-al or other exterior handle portion or member 2 1, shown as integral with the interior hook-provided portion of said bar.

To cooperate with-each slot 15 in the slidable retention of a bolt 18 atthe same time providing a fulcrum for pivotal movem nt of said bolt and also providing a stop for a spring 25, biasing the bolt 18 toward an upper position, use may be made of a l'n'ack t such asthat shown at 26,said bracket being shown as provided with attachment feet 27, 28, adapted to be secured (bywelding or by rivets or bolts 29) and also with a slot 30 inwardly terminating in a fulcrum edge 31.

The spring 25 will be seen to have a substantially uniform diameter, adapting the bolt 18 to extend therethrongh, and to be interposed between the mentioned stop, fixed in relation to the hood 11 and disposed below Y said 5 rin and an additional sto'o 33 the 237 i 7 substantially rectangular bend at 34: (any additional bend at 35 being advantageously such asnormally to maintain the handle 2 1 in a substantially horizontal position) a peripheral groove may be so provided in proximity to the bend 3 1, or at a suitable distance from the hook portionli) of the bar 18, as

i locallytoyimpart a circular section to said bar; and the stop element 33, shown as having a rectangular opening corresponding in dimensions to the cross-sectional dimensions of the. bar 18 and as provided with integral I shoes 37, a fter having been threaded on said 8 bar and brought opposite said groove, may

be rotated into the interlocking, self-retainmg and anti-rattling; relationship with associated parts that is illustrated in mentioned figures, the interposition of a separate slot- 3 closing member in the form of a slidablo plate 38 being suggested only in Figs. 2., 3 and 8. This may advantageously be formed of an anti-friction material and include a central depressed portion, that is enamelled like the hood; and it may be secured for vertical movement with stop 33 by means such as spot-welding and/or by the use of a transverse pin 39,shown as extending through bar 18 and also through ears 10 on plate 38. As shown in the drawing and described above, the bar is disposed through the opening on the plate 33 until a circular portion thereof engages said opening, with the shoulders 37 disposed adjacent the vertical sides of the bar adjacent the bend 34, thereby locking the bar from axial displacement. When the bar is secured in position it is lock d from rotation by engagement with the sides of the slot in the hood. It will be noted that the pin 39 which extends through the lugs 40 and bar 18, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, provides a latch structure with the bar secured against rotary movement thereof and thus the hook is sebee-hive type,permittin,9; the stops 26a andv 33a to be brought comparatively close together. Fig. 6, in which some mentionec characters are again employed, but each with an added Z2, will be seen to suggest not only that the helical portion of a spring 25?) may be transversely disposed but that it is theoretically possible to dispense with any bends. corresponding to the bends shown at 34 and at 55, Fig. 2, in the latch bar 18?); that the bracket 26?) may be formed from the material of the hood; and also that, assuming; the spring 25?) and the bar 187) to be suitably formed for direct cooperation, one of these elements may be so formed as to include a part or parts 37 b that is constantly engageable with the hood 11b adjacent theedn'es of a slot 15?) therein. so that no separately formed upper stop element corresponding to the stop 33 of preceding figures is required.

In all forms of the invention, it will be,

understood that, by reason of the upward pressure of the spring 25 upon the bolt 18, shoes 37 or plates 38 remain normally in. slidable. engagement with the hood 11 adjacent the edges of the slots 15 and that men-, tioned parts are so proportioned that a bolt 18, when so depressed as slidably to advance through and pivot relatively to a bracket 26 may so downwardly and inwardly advance as first to efi'e'ct a cam engagement between surfaces such as are shown at 22 and 23, Figs. 2 and 4,this cam action preferably occurring only after the hood has been brought to its lower limit of movement. The final re- 24a or 24?) is then an anti-rattling and hoodretaining engagement between surfaces such as the mentioned surfaces and 21.

The mode of operation of all alternative forms is essentially the same. When a hood is to be lifted, it will be understood that an elevation of the handle portion of any one of the illustrated latch bars (optionally provided with an integral or other decorative ball or knob 41) is effective to release the latch.v That is, although the power of the spring (or 25a or 251)) is intended to be such as at all times to retain the plate 38 or shoes 37 (or 37a or 376) in engagement with the hood during depression of a latch bar, a suitable pivotal movement of said bar relatively to the fulcrum provided by a bracket 26 (or 26a or 26??) is promptly and reliably effective to disengage the hook portion 19 (or 19a or 196) from any keeper 16 (or 16a or 16??) cooperating therewith,- continued upward movement of the handle portions of a. pair of like latch bars being then effective tolift the hood.

Although the foregoing description has included the details of but a limited number of embodiments (the three-parts embodiment shown in Fig. 6 being illustrative rather of principles than of preferred practice), it should be understood not only that various features of the present invention might be independently employed but also that nu merous additional modifications might easily be devised by skilled workers, if informed of the foregoing,all without departure '1, from the scope of the present invention, as

the latter is indicated above and in the folmeans interposed between said stop element and the fulcrum element for maintaining said bar in an inclined plane.

2. In a latch organization suitable for cooperation with an interior and fixed keeper 5; in the releasable retention of an engine hood which is provided with a vertical slot: a unitary latch bar element slidable in said slot, said bar inwardly terminating in a hook portion for direct engagement with said keeper and outwardly terminating in a handle portion; and means rendering a natural elevation of said handle portion effective to non-rotatably disengage said hook portion, preliminary to an elevation of said hood, and a depression of said handle portion effective to engage said hook portion with said keeper.

3. In a latch organization suitable for cooperation with an interior and fixed keeper in the releasable retention of an engine hood which is provided with a vertical slot: a

unitary'latch bar element slidable in said slot, said bar inwardly terminating in a hook an elevation of said hood,,said means 1neluding an interior fulcrum element slidably receiving said latch bar.

4. In a latch organization suitable for cooperation with an interior and fixed keeper in the releasable retention of an engine hood which is provided with a vertical slot: unitary latch bar element slidable in said slot, said bar inwardly terminating in a hook portion for direct engagement with said keeper and outwardly terminating in a handle portion; and means rendering a natural elevation of said handle portion effective to disengage said hook portion, preliminary to an elevation of said hood, said means including a resilient element non-rotatably biasing said bar toward an upper position.

5. In a latch organization suitable for cooperation with an interior and fixed keeper in the releasable retention of an engine hood which is provided with a vertical slot: a unitary latch bar element slidable in said slot, said bar inwardly terminating in a hook portion for direct engagement with said keeper and outwardly terminating in a handle portion; and'means rendering a natural elevation of said handle portion effective to disengage said hook portion, preliminary to an elevation of said hood, said means including a resilient element biasing said bar toward an upper position and interposed between said fulcrum element, a plate slidably disposed adjacent said hood and a stop secured to said plate, the plate and stop being movable with said bar.

6. In a latchorganization comprising a bar extending through a slot in a hood: a slot-closing plate slidably engageable within said hood adjacent said slot; and means connecting said plate with said bar.

7. In a latch organization suitable for cooperation with an interior and fixed keeper in the releasable retention of an engine hood which is provided with a vertical slot: a unitary latch bar element slidable in said slot, said bar inwardly terminating in a hook portion for direct engagement with said keeper and outwardly terminating in a handle portion; and meansrendering natural elevation of said handle portion effective to disengage said hook portion, preliminary to an elevation of said hood, said bar being provided with a bend and with means, adjacent said bend, for a non-rotatable engagement with said hood at the edges of said slots.

8. In a latch organization suitable for cooperation with an interior and fixed keeper in the releasable retention of an engine hood which is provided with a vertical slot: a unitary latch bar element slidable in said slot, said bar inwardly terminating in a hook portion for direct engagement with said keeper and outwardly terminating in a handle por tion; and means rendering natural elevation of said handle portion effective to disengage said hook portion, preliminary to an elevation of said hood, said means including a slotted guide bracket rigidly secured to said hood and slidably receiving said bar.

9. In a latch organization suitable for cooperation with an interior and fixed keeper in the releasable retention of an engine hood which is provided with a vertical slot: a unitary latch bar element slidable in said slot, said bar inwardly terminating in a hook portion for direct engagement with said keeper and outwardly terminating in a handle'portion; and-means rendering natural elevation of said handle portion effective to disengage said hook portion, preliminary to an elevation of said hood, said means including a bracket serving as a guide and providing a stop interiorly secured to said hood, a stop interiorly secured to said bar and provided with shoes slidably engageable with said hood, said bar non-rotatably engaging said stop and a spring interposed between said bracket and said stop.

10. In a latch organization suitable for cooperation with an interior and fixed keeper in the releasable retention of an engine hood which is provided with a vertical slot a unitary latch bar element slidable in said slot, said bar inwardly terminating in a hook portion for direct engagement with said keeper and outwardly terminating in a handle portion; and means rendering natural elevation of said handle portion effective to disengage said hook portion, preliminary to an elevation of said hook, said means including a stop rigidly secured to said hood, a barcarried stop and a spring interposed between said stops. 7

11. In a latch organization suitable for cooperation with an interior and fixed keeper in the releasable retention of an engine hood which is provided with a vertical slot: a unitary latch bar element slidable in said slot, said bar inwardly terminating in a hook portion for direct engagement with said keeper and outwardly terminating in a handle portion; and means rendering natural elevation of said handle portion effective to disengage said hook portion, preliminary to an elevation of said hook, said means including a stop rigidly secured to said hood, a bar-carried stop and a spring interposed between'said stops, and said bar and the stop thereon being provided with an interlocking connection therebetween.

12. In a latch organization suitable for cooperation with an interior and fixed keeper in the releasable retention of an engine hood which is provided with a vertical slot: a unitary latch bar element slidable in said slot, said bar inwardly terminating in a hook portion for direct engagement with said keeper and outwardly terminating in a handle portion; and means rendering natural elevation of said handle portion effective to disengage said hook portion, preliminary to an elevation of said hook, said means including a stop rigidly secured to said hood and a barcarried stop and a uniform-diameter compression spring interposed therebetween.

13. In a latch organization suitable for cooperation with an interior and fixed keeper in the releasable retentionof an engine hood which is provided with a vertical slot: a unitary latch bar element slidable in said slot, said bar inwardly terminating in a hook portion for direct engagement with said keeper and outwardly terminating in a handle portion; and means rendering natural elevation of said handle portion effective to disengage said hook portion, preliminary to an elevation of said hook, said means including a stop rigidly secured to said hood and a barcarried stop and a bee-hive type spring interposed therebetween.

14. In a latch organization suitable for cooperation with an interior and fixed keeper in the releasable retention of an engine hood which is provided with a vertical slot; a unitary latch bar element slidable in said slot, said bar inwardly vterminating in a hook portion for direct engagement with said keeper and outwardly terminating in a handle portion; and means rendering natural elevation of said handle portion effective to disengage said hook portion, preliminary to an elevation-of said hook, said means including a stop rigidly secured to said hood and a bar-carried stop and a spring which includes a horizontally extending helical portion interposed therebetween.

15. In a latch organization, in combination with a hood having a vertical slot therein, a latch bar slidably disposed in said slot, said bar extending inwardly and downwardly through said slot, a hook member integral with the bar adjacent the inner end thereof, said hook having an upwardly and outwardly extending flange surface, said surface being disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the bar, a keeper, said keeper having a surface cooperating for direct engagement with the flat surface of the hook, a slotted bracket member rigidly secured to the hood, a portion thereof extending upwardly and outwardly at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the bar, the bracket being provided as a fulcrum for said bar, a flat bracket connected to said bar, said bracket being disposed in sliding engagement with the hood and a spring interposed between said bracket and the slotted bracket normally maintaining the hook in engagement with the keeper.

16. In a latch organization, in combination with an engine hood having a vertical slot therein, a latch bar slidably disposed in said slot, the bar extending inwardly and downwardly through the slot, one end of said bar terminating in a handle portion and the other end thereof in a hook member, said hook member having an upwardly and outwardly extending fiat surface disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the bar, a keeper, said keeper having a surface co-opcrating for direct engagement with the flat surface of the hook, a slotted bracket member rigidly secured to said hood, a portion of the bracket extending outwardly and upwardly at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the bar, the bracket providing a ful- 5 crum for said bar, a plate slidably engaging the hood, a stop bracket secured to the plate and a spring interposed between the brackets for normally maintaining the hook in engagement with the keeper.

3o 17 In a latch organization suitable for cooperation with an interior and fixed keeper, the releasable retention of an engine hood which is provided with a vertical slot, a unitary latch bar element slidable in the slot, the

latch bar outwardly terminating in a handle portion and inwardly terminating in a hook portion, a slotted bracket member rigidly secured to the hood, a portion thereof extending outwardly and upwardly at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the bar, said bracket providing a fulcrum for the bar, a stop bracket connected to the bar, a plate slidably engaging the hood and supporting the stop bracket and a spring interposed between 5 the brackets for normally maintaining said hook in engagement with the keeper.

TOM I. DUFFY. 

